Development Control Committee B – 30 January 2019 ITEM NO
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Development Control Committee B – 30 January 2019 ITEM NO. 1 WARD: Hotwells & Harbourside CONTACT OFFICER: Tom Watson SITE ADDRESS: Avon Crescent Bristol BS1 6XQ APPLICATION NO: 18/02968/X Variation/Deletion of a Condition DETERMINATION 25 September 2018 DEADLINE: Application for variation of a condition No. 15 (List of Approved Plans) following grant of planning permission 16/05853/X. RECOMMENDATION: Grant subject to Condition(s) APPLICANT: Bristol City Council AVTM Metrobus Team City Hall Bristol The following plan is for illustrative purposes only, and cannot be guaranteed to be up to date. LOCATION PLAN: 21/01/19 16:22 Committee report Item no. 1 Development Control Committee B – 30 January 2019 Application No. 18/02968/X : Avon Crescent Bristol BS1 6XQ SUMMARY In 2014, planning permission was granted for a revised section of the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads (AVTM) section of MetroBus, from Avon Crescent, along Cumberland Road to Redcliff Hill (application ref: 13/05648/FB). The planning permission is comprised of a new junction with Cumberland Road, a new bridge at Bathurst Basin, flood protection measures, demolition and reconstruction of walls, realignment of highway, crossings, traffic signals and temporary construction areas, bus stops and shelters. Since grant of planning permission, applications to discharge conditions have been submitted and approved and construction activity relating to those phases of development that directly relate to the operation of MetroBus have been completed. In 2017, an application to vary planning permission 13/05648/FB was granted, to allow the position of the proposed new bridge at Bathurst Basin to be moved (application ref: 13/05648/FB). Included within the planning permission for AVTM, is a phase of development associated with MetroBus at Avon Crescent which is yet to be constructed. This is comprised of concepts to reduce the volume and speed of motorised through traffic on Avon Crescent, with consequential hard and soft landscaping improvements. This application (ref: 18/02968/X) seeks to vary the planning permission for AVTM, for an amended scheme of work at Avon Crescent as follows: - Removal of proposed ‘Shared space’ highway surface treatment, including hard and soft landscaping. - Proposed speed table in the north of Avon Crescent, adjacent entrances to pedestrian / cycle access to the MetroBus stop at Cumberland Basin. - Proposed extended footway area between Avon Crescent and McAdam Way. - Proposed refuge ‘island’ between the one-way exit from Avon Crescent to Cumberland Road and contraflow cycleway, to protect cyclists. - Removal of realigned retaining wall between Cumberland Road and Avon Crescent. - Proposed retention of existing retaining wall between Cumberland Road and Avon Crescent, with proposed build out and crossing point across Avon Crescent. All other features proposed for Avon Crescent by planning permission 13/05648/FB would be retained in the amended scheme, including a one-way exit from Avon Crescent to Cumberland Road, reconfigured junction between Avon Crescent and McAdam Way and an echelon parking layout on Avon Crescent. During consultation, Councillor Mark Wright has referred the application to DC Committee for concern that the amended scheme at Avon Crescent would not achieve the stated aims of cutting vehicle speeds and vehicle volumes. Members of the public have raised objection to the amended scheme for reasons relating to: concerns with highway safety, configuration of parking layout adjacent to Underfall Yard, impact on heritage assets, potential noise and vibration impact of the proposed speed table and concerns regarding air quality emissions arising from the scheme. Key issues in the report concern highways (including highway safety / parking layout adjacent to Underfall Yard), design and amenity (including noise and air quality pollution). Item no. 1 Development Control Committee B – 30 January 2019 Application No. 18/02968/X : Avon Crescent Bristol BS1 6XQ The key driver for the scheme approved at Avon Crescent in 2014, is concepts to reduce the volume and speed of motorised through traffic. This matter has therefore been carefully considered by the Applicant and Officers in Transport Development Management in order to agree measures which would make the amended scheme acceptable on highway safety grounds. Officers in Transport Development Management consider that the shared space aspect of the scheme has been replaced with other highway safety measures, which would have the same effects relating to traffic speed and traffic volume. Subject to further information being provided through planning conditions once contractors are appointed to develop the detailed design, the amended scheme is considered acceptable in terms of pedestrian and cyclist safety. A revised parking layout, to ensure that an appropriate access to Underfall Yard for larger vehicles / boats is retained, would be secured through a specific planning condition. Whilst the shared space elements of the scheme have been downgraded from a design perspective, some new elements of landscaping are proposed which are supported by City Design Group. A condition (see proposed Condition 9) would be used to secure details of the detailed design and quality material pallet for approval by the Local Planning Authority prior to the phase of work at Avon Crescent commencing. In terms of other matters arising from the scheme, the proposed development is in accordance with all other relevant policies in the Development Plan. This is evidenced either through information submitted in support of this application, or made acceptable by securing further information through way of planning conditions. The application is recommended for approval subject to the conditions attached to this report. The application was originally presented to DC Committee B on 7 November 2018. At this meeting, Members resolved to defer a decision on the application to allow for a Members site visit to Avon Crescent which subsequently took place on 19 December 2018. No changes to the report or recommendation presented to DC Committee B on 7 November 2018 have been made, other than to incorporate the points in the Update Sheet associated with DC Committee B on 7 November 2018 into this report. BACKGROUND In 2014, planning permission was granted for a revised section of the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads (AVTM) section of MetroBus, from Avon Crescent, along Cumberland Road to Redcliff Hill (application ref: 13/0564/FB). The planning permission is comprised of a new junction with Cumberland Road, a new bridge at Bathurst Basin, flood protection measures, demolition and reconstruction of walls, realignment of highway, crossings, traffic signals and temporary construction areas, bus stops and shelters. Since grant of planning permission, applications to discharge conditions have been submitted and approved, and construction activity relating to those phases of the development directly relating to the operation of MetroBus have been completed. In 2017, an application to vary planning permission 13/05648/FB was granted, to allow the position of the proposed new bridge at Bathurst Basin to be moved (application ref: 16/05853/X). Included within the planning permission for AVTM, is a phase of development associated with MetroBus at Avon Crescent which is yet to be constructed. This is comprised of concepts to reduce the volume and speed of motorised through traffic on Avon Crescent, with consequential hard and soft landscaping improvements. Item no. 1 Development Control Committee B – 30 January 2019 Application No. 18/02968/X : Avon Crescent Bristol BS1 6XQ Avon Crescent is characterised by a row of Grade II Listed Georgian houses, located along the eastern side of the road, fronting onto a footway and the highway. The western side of Avon Crescent is comprised of the retaining structure for Cumberland Road and a brick substation building with parallel parking bays along the highway. A stepped access through the retaining wall provides pedestrian access from Cumberland Road to the southern end of Avon Crescent. To the north of the substation is a recently constructed pedestrian access from Avon Crescent, heading west to the Cumberland Basin MetroBus bus stop, passing underneath Cumberland Road. Houses on Avon Crescent back onto the historic Underfall Yard, with access for long vehicles / boats taken from a land joining towards the north of Avon Crescent. Vehicle access arrangements to and through Avon Crescent have recently been reconfigured, to close normal motorised access to Avon Crescent from Cumberland Road, making it a one-way access arrangement to the south. Access to the northern end of Avon Crescent remains two-way, taken from McAdam Way / Merchants Road near to the Nova Scotia public house. Avon Crescent is located within the City Docks Conservation Area. RELEVANT HISTORY 16/05853/X – Application of variation of condition number 18 – Phase 1. For planning permission 13/05648/FB GRANTED – 02/02/2017 Application 16/05853/X varied an approved plan on planning permission 13/05648/FB to allow for the position of the proposed new bridge at Bathurst Basin to be amended. 16/05418/NMA – Application for a non-material amendment for removal of the Cumberland Road outbound bus lane from proposals. AGREED – 02/11/2016 13/05648/FB – Revision to the route of the rapid transit scheme authorised by the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Bristol City Centre Rapid Transit Order (the Order). The development comprises construction of a new